Murdaugh Trial Clerk ‘Placed Her Fingers On The Scale Of Justice,’ Court Rules

BreakingBusinessMurdaugh Trial Clerk ‘Placed Her Fingers On The Scale Of Justice,’ Court RulesByTy Roush,Forbes Staff. Ty Roush is a breaking news reporter based in New York City.Follow AuthorMay 13, 2026, 12:46pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.ToplineThe trial clerk in Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial “placed her fingers on the scale of justice” and tampered with jurors, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, after Murdaugh’s attorneys accused the court official of using her position to promote her tell-all book about the case. Attorneys argued the court clerk advised jurors not to believe Murdaugh’s defense. TNSKey FactsThe South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Wednesday to overturn Murdaugh’s murder convictions in the deaths of his wife, Maggie, and his son, Paul, in 2021 and ordered a new trial in the case.Justices said Murdaugh was denied the right to a fair trial because of Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill’s “improper external influences” on the jury.Attorneys Jim Griffin and Dick Harpootlian appealed Murdaugh’s convictions in September 2023, citing sworn statements from three jurors, including one juror who claimed Hill told jurors to “watch [Murdaugh’s] actions” and “watch him closely.”The juror later testified that Hill told the jury “not to be fooled” by Murdaugh’s attorneys, which the juror said made them believe Murdaugh would lie during testimony.Griffin and Harpootlian claimed Hill influenced jurors to secure a book deal and media appearances that would be unavailable if Murdaugh was found not guilty, and justices said the Barnwell County Clerk of Court, who assisted Hill in the trial, testified that Hill wanted to write a book about the case and that a guilty verdict “would be the best way to sell books.”Prosecutors failed to prove that Murdaugh’s trial was not influenced by Hill’s “highly improper comments,” justices wrote, accu...